Question about governments

[ColonelSanders]

I'm really excited about new Paradox game, In my unhealthy excitement I've been browsing stellaris wiki and I just had to find something to nitpick at. So... here I come:
I love almost every advanced government name (especially irenic democracy/monarchy - pure awesomeness) and Its leader title but, as usual, there is something that bugs me - Star Empire... I'm not native english speaker but it sounds somehow weird. Isn't Interstellar Empire better name? Or, even better, Galactic Empire? This last one is also a great reference to a certain well-known empire. Also will Its leader have the same title as the leader of the basic empire government form?
Also don't you think that Mega Corporation sounds a bit bland for an advanced government form of a plutocratic oligarchy? I know that it's popular in fiction but aren't there better names? Like Trans-galactic Commerce Guild or Corporate Republic?
Last question was probably answered in some stream but I don't know where so... Is it possible to change government form in the game? Can I reorganize Democracy into Empire, In order to ensure the security and continuing stability?
P.S. I love this warhammer 40k vibe that leader title in transcendent empire gives. God Emperor xD Can't wait to use drop pods for a planetary assault...

 

[Haldan]

Star Empire works just fine gramatically. Instead of just a regular Empire, it's an "Empire in/of the Stars".

 

[Valyrian_Knight]

Well, technically speaking, in a Roman meaning of the term, an Empire is a State which claim sovereignity over the entire Universe ( and whose ruler, the Emperor, is above every single beeing in the Galaxy/ Universe). So technically Star Empire is basically a pleonasm.

~~It was the Roman Right lesson of the Day ~~

 

[cosmeIII]

I actually dislike the Irenic Democracy and Irenic Monarchy names, it sounds way too broad to describe a system of government. Hell, I'd say it sounds way too subjective. Most other government forms indicate towards its power structure and division. A plutocratic oligarchy is a system where the many (pluto) are ruled by a small section (oligarchy) of that many (cratic part of plutocratic).

A moral democracy? A moral democracy is a state whose power is held by a parliament elected by the people and its behaviour is set around a strict, and human, moral code. But what does the Irenic add to this? Are they just adhering to a stricterer moral code? There is no real indication of advancement in the name, though I don't know about the description. It just seems like they are simply more adamant in their belief of their moral code.

An enlightened monarchy? Apparently, in game terms, it is a monarchy which holds peace and the wellbeing of its subjects in a high esteem. Probably pompous, with stylish uniforms for its higher ranking nobles. It is a sort of proto-feudalism where entire planets are probably ruled by a Space Duke or something. Then it becomes an Irenic Monarchy. What? A monarchy so peaceful that it became peacefulest? Come on, give us some more information. Is the King still King? Is there a stronger parliament now? Do the Space Dukes have cooler uniforms?

Now let's look, for example, at another name switch: Divine Mandate to Transcendent Empire. Woah, what a switch. Suddenly, your almighty archprophet, who spoke in the name of the Space God/Gods, is now a Space God himself! His newfound Psionic abilities and his subjects' radical belief in him has reached such a point that he can now call himself God-Emperor of his race and empire. Quite a switch from being the Archprophet, huh?

And that's my rant for this name decision, which will probably be easily moddable when the game releases. Please skewer my points so these two names stop bothering me.

 

[Valyrian_Knight]

Just to say, pluto means "wealthy " , not "few " . A Plutocracy is " The Power to the Wealthy " . Oligarchy means "Power to the Few ".

 

[nweismuller]

Just to say, pluto means "wealthy " , not "few " . A Plutocracy is " The Power to the Wealthy " . Oligarchy means "Power to the Few ".

To be pedantic- 'oligarchy' is 'rule by a few'- the '-archy' suffix means 'rule'- and plutocracy is 'power or authority of the wealthy'- the '-cracy' suffix is 'power or authority'. So a 'plutocratic oligarchy' is rule by a limited class distinguished in some form by their wealth. This could hypothetically take several forms, ranging from a wealthy hereditary aristocracy that has avenues of power locked down to a relatively fluid ruling class that freely accepts new members as they distinguish themselves by gaining wealth.

 

[cosmeIII]

Just to say, pluto means "wealthy " , not "few " . A Plutocracy is " The Power to the Wealthy " . Oligarchy means "Power to the Few ".

Ah, my greek is really off. I feel embarassed. But my point still stands.

 

[ColonelSanders]

And what about changing government form mid-game, is it possible?

 

[schultz]

I've always thought of a mega corporation (in this game, at least) as an entity that transcends national boundaries, having interests/holdings among numerous empires or states.

 

[BrokenSky]

Ah, my greek is really off. I feel embarassed. But my point still stands.

Well the one about transcendent empire definitely does at any rate.

 

[ColonelSanders]

I've always thought of a mega corporation (in this game, at least) as an entity that transcends national boundaries, having interests/holdings among numerous empires or states.

To me a classical example of Mega Corporation in fiction would be Weyland-Yutani Corporation. It was pretty awesome how omnipotent it seemed in the series.

 

[schultz]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that something like this is modeled into the future trade expansion.

I'd appreciate seeing self-interested extra-national entities with tentacles in numerous empires.

 

[Trithemius]

I like megacorporations but their scale seems wrong to me. I don't see them as the advanced form of Plutocratic Oligarchy... because I imagined a Plutocratic Oligarchy as an combination of planetary megacorporations - cyberpunk-style.

The next step to me seems like something CHOAM-like - a corporate structure that pervades everything - including the assignment of the nobility's fiefs - and ultimately makes state-like structures a sideshow to the real business of power.

Interstellar Plutonomy might capture the scale ('interstellar') and the continuing development course of the society ('plutonomy' - a neologism meaning an economy where few control the production and consumption of wealth... representing the Plutocratic Oligarchy's development towards a "pure economy" rather than an economically-focused state).

 

[ColonelSanders]

Ok, and does anyone know the answer to my question?
Can I change my government form or ethos mid-game?

 

[Hull-Tanker]

Ok, and does anyone know the answer to my question?
Can I change my government form or ethos mid-game?

AFAIK the devs havent said anything about this issue expect that you can change from base gov to advanced gov.

 

[moglus]

Now let's look, for example, at another name switch: Divine Mandate to Transcendent Empire. Woah, what a switch. Suddenly, your almighty archprophet, who spoke in the name of the Space God/Gods, is now a Space God himself! His newfound Psionic abilities and his subjects' radical belief in him has reached such a point that he can now call himself God-Emperor of his race and empire. Quite a switch from being the Archprophet, huh?

Well the opposite shift did happen in ancient egypt during the "Amarna Period", Akhenaten was pharaoh of egypt but unlike other pharaohs did not claim personal divinity, as was customary in ancient egyptian polytheism. He even went as far as to change his official title from

Amenhotep Netjer-Heqa-Waset "Amenhotep god-ruler of Thebes"
to
Akhenaten "Effective for the Aten"

So is it really that hard to believe that the opposite could happen? it would hardly be the first time in history that a powerful ruler has suddenly decided that they aren't "mere mortals" like their subjects.

 

[chrisjwmartin]

Now let's look, for example, at another name switch: Divine Mandate to Transcendent Empire. Woah, what a switch. Suddenly, your almighty archprophet, who spoke in the name of the Space God/Gods, is now a Space God himself! His newfound Psionic abilities and his subjects' radical belief in him has reached such a point that he can now call himself God-Emperor of his race and empire. Quite a switch from being the Archprophet, huh?

I don't see this as a big change. The Roman Emperors likewise went from having senior clerical titles alongside their political-military titles, to being outright God-Emperors - and they didn't even have psionic powers to justify such a shift. (As far as we know...)

 

[Pandoricus]

I actually dislike the Irenic Democracy and Irenic Monarchy names, it sounds way too broad to describe a system of government. Hell, I'd say it sounds way too subjective. Most other government forms indicate towards its power structure and division. A plutocratic oligarchy is a system where the many (pluto) are ruled by a small section (oligarchy) of that many (cratic part of plutocratic).

A moral democracy? A moral democracy is a state whose power is held by a parliament elected by the people and its behaviour is set around a strict, and human, moral code. But what does the Irenic add to this? Are they just adhering to a stricterer moral code? There is no real indication of advancement in the name, though I don't know about the description. It just seems like they are simply more adamant in their belief of their moral code.

An enlightened monarchy? Apparently, in game terms, it is a monarchy which holds peace and the wellbeing of its subjects in a high esteem. Probably pompous, with stylish uniforms for its higher ranking nobles. It is a sort of proto-feudalism where entire planets are probably ruled by a Space Duke or something. Then it becomes an Irenic Monarchy. What? A monarchy so peaceful that it became peacefulest? Come on, give us some more information. Is the King still King? Is there a stronger parliament now? Do the Space Dukes have cooler uniforms?

Now let's look, for example, at another name switch: Divine Mandate to Transcendent Empire. Woah, what a switch. Suddenly, your almighty archprophet, who spoke in the name of the Space God/Gods, is now a Space God himself! His newfound Psionic abilities and his subjects' radical belief in him has reached such a point that he can now call himself God-Emperor of his race and empire. Quite a switch from being the Archprophet, huh?

And that's my rant for this name decision, which will probably be easily moddable when the game releases. Please skewer my points so these two names stop bothering me.

In divine mandate, for the game, it says the leader is divine.

 

[cosmeIII]

Well the opposite shift did happen in ancient egypt during the "Amarna Period", Akhenaten was pharaoh of egypt but unlike other pharaohs did not claim personal divinity, as was customary in ancient egyptian polytheism. He even went as far as to change his official title from

Amenhotep Netjer-Heqa-Waset "Amenhotep god-ruler of Thebes"
to
Akhenaten "Effective for the Aten"

So is it really that hard to believe that the opposite could happen? it would hardly be the first time in history that a powerful ruler has suddenly decided that they aren't "mere mortals" like their subjects.

I don't see this as a big change. The Roman Emperors likewise went from having senior clerical titles alongside their political-military titles, to being outright God-Emperors - and they didn't even have psionic powers to justify such a shift. (As far as we know...)

In divine mandate, for the game, it says the leader is divine.

While all your points are quite fair, and you're all absolutely right and even enlightening me on some facts about history. I must mention that my issue is not with the change in government of Divine Mandate -> Transcendent Empire. In fact. It's one I very much enjoy because you actually feel that there's a true change in the way the people are governed.

My issue is: while many governments imply a certain progression towards futuristic rule, Irenic Democracies and Irenic Monarchies just don't. There's no implication of a change in rule in these two, simply that there might be an even stronger moral code, but that's it. The Irenic Democracy seems like it's a moral democracy all the same, as the Irenic Monarchy is still an enlightened monarchy as well.

 

[chrisjwmartin]

Ahh, I see. By "these two names" I thought you meant "Irenic" and "Transcendent", but you actually meant "Irenic Democracy" and "Irenic Monarchy". Apologies.